How to Reset Administrator Password on Cisco Secure ACS SE
How to Download Cisco Secure ACS SE Recovery CD
If you are using Cisco Secure Access Control Server Solution Engine (ACS SE) for your network security and authentication needs, you might need a recovery CD in case of any issues or failures. A recovery CD can help you restore your ACS SE configuration and data, or upgrade or migrate to a newer version of ACS SE. In this article, we will explain what Cisco Secure ACS SE is, why you need a recovery CD, how to download it, and how to use it.
download cisco secure acs se recovery cd
What is Cisco Secure ACS SE?
Cisco Secure ACS SE is a network appliance that provides centralized authentication, authorization, and accounting (AAA) services for network devices and users. It supports various protocols and standards, such as RADIUS, TACACS+, IEEE 802.1X, EAP, PEAP, LEAP, MAC Authentication Bypass (MAB), Network Admission Control (NAC), and more. It also integrates with external identity sources, such as Active Directory, LDAP, RSA SecurID, and others.
Benefits of Cisco Secure ACS SE
Some of the benefits of using Cisco Secure ACS SE are:
It simplifies network security management by providing a single point of control for all AAA functions.
It enhances network security by enforcing granular policies based on user identity, device type, location, time, and other attributes.
It improves network performance by reducing authentication latency and bandwidth consumption.
It increases network availability by providing high availability and scalability features.
It lowers network costs by reducing hardware and software requirements and maintenance efforts.
Why do you need a recovery CD?
A recovery CD is a disk image that contains the operating system and the application software of the ACS SE appliance. You can use it to re-image the appliance with a fresh installation of the software or to restore the configuration and data from a backup file. A recovery CD is useful in several scenarios, such as:
Scenarios where a recovery CD is useful
You forget the administrator password for the ACS SE appliance and need to reset it.
You encounter a hardware failure or a software corruption that prevents the appliance from booting up or functioning properly.
You want to upgrade or migrate to a newer version of ACS SE on the same or a different hardware platform.
You want to perform a factory reset of the appliance and erase all the configuration and data.
How to create a bootable recovery CD
To create a bootable recovery CD, you need to download the recovery disk image file from the Cisco website and burn it to a blank CD or DVD using a disk burning software. The disk image file name depends on the version of ACS SE that you are using. For example, for ACS SE 4.2.1, the file name is ACS_v4.2.1.15.iso. You can find the download link for your version of ACS SE in the Cisco Secure Access Control Server Solution Engine Software Download page. Note that you need to have a valid service contract and a Cisco.com account to access the download page.
How to download Cisco Secure ACS SE Recovery CD
To download Cisco Secure ACS SE Recovery CD, you need to follow these steps:
Requirements for downloading
A computer with an internet connection and a disk burning software.
A blank CD or DVD that has enough capacity to store the disk image file.
A valid service contract and a Cisco.com account.
Steps for downloading
Go to the Cisco Secure Access Control Server Solution Engine Software Download page.
Select your version of ACS SE from the drop-down menu.
Click on the link for the recovery disk image file that matches your version of ACS SE.
Login with your Cisco.com account credentials.
Accept the terms and conditions and click on Download.
Save the file to your computer.
Burn the file to a blank CD or DVD using your disk burning software.
Label the disk as "Cisco Secure ACS SE Recovery CD" and keep it in a safe place.
How to use Cisco Secure ACS SE Recovery CD
To use Cisco Secure ACS SE Recovery CD, you need to insert it into the optical drive of the appliance and reboot it. The appliance will boot from the recovery CD and display a menu with various options. Depending on your scenario, you can choose one of these options:
Upgrade scenarios
If you want to upgrade your ACS SE appliance to a newer version of ACS SE software, you can choose one of these options:
OptionDescription
[1] Upgrade Appliance SoftwareThis option allows you to upgrade your appliance software without affecting your configuration and data. You need to have an upgrade package file stored on an FTP server or on an external USB drive. The upgrade package file name depends on your current and target versions of ACS SE software. For example, for upgrading from ACS 4.0 to 4.2 on the Cisco 1113 platform, the file name is CSCsg42811-4_0_0_27_to_4_2_0_124.upg. You can find the download link for your upgrade package file in the Cisco Secure Access Control Server Solution Engine Software Download page.
[2] Re-image Appliance SoftwareThis option allows you to re-image your appliance software with a fresh installation of your target version of ACS SE software. This option will erase all your configuration and data on the appliance. You need to have a backup file stored on an FTP server or on an external USB drive before performing this option. The backup file name depends on your current version of ACS SE software. For example, for backing up from ACS 4.1 on the Cisco 1113 platform, the file name is CSCsg42811-backup-4_1_1_24.tar.gpg. You can create a backup file using the web interface or CLI commands of your current version of ACS SE software.
Migration scenarios
If you want to migrate your configuration and data from one platform or server type to another platform or server type (for example, from Windows server to appliance server), you can choose one of these options:
OptionDescription
[5] Migrate Data From Windows Server To Appliance ServerThis option allows you to migrate your configuration and data from an ACS for Windows server (version 4.x) to an appliance server (version 4.x). You need to have an export package file stored on an FTP server or on an external USB drive before performing this option. The export package file name depends on your current version of ACS for Windows software. For example, for exporting from ACS 4.1 for Windows server, the file name is CSCsg42811-export-4_1_1_24.tar.gpg. You can create an export package file using CLI commands of your current version of ACS for Windows software.
Migration scenarios
If you want to migrate your configuration and data from one platform or server type to another platform or server type (for example, from Windows server to appliance server), you can choose one of these options:
OptionDescription
[5] Migrate Data From Windows Server To Appliance ServerThis option allows you to migrate your configuration and data from an ACS for Windows server (version 4.x) to an appliance server (version 4.x). You need to have an export package file stored on an FTP server or on an external USB drive before performing this option. The export package file name depends on your current version of ACS for Windows software. For example, for exporting from ACS 4.1 for Windows server, the file name is CSCsg42811-export-4_1_1_24.tar.gpg. You can create an export package file using CLI commands of your current version of ACS for Windows software.
[6] Migrate Data From Appliance Server To Appliance ServerThis option allows you to migrate your configuration and data from one appliance server (version 4.x) to another appliance server (version 4.x). You need to have a backup file stored on an FTP server or on an external USB drive before performing this option. The backup file name depends on your current version of ACS SE software. For example, for backing up from ACS 4.2 on the Cisco 1113 platform, the file name is CSCsg42811-backup-4_2_0_124.tar.gpg. You can create a backup file using the web interface or CLI commands of your current version of ACS SE software.
Conclusion
In this article, we have explained how to download Cisco Secure ACS SE Recovery CD and how to use it for various scenarios. We hope that this article has helped you understand the importance and benefits of having a recovery CD for your ACS SE appliance. If you have any questions or feedback, please feel free to contact us.
FAQs
Q: What are the hardware platforms supported by Cisco Secure ACS SE?
A: Cisco Secure ACS SE supports three hardware platforms: the Cisco 1112 SE appliance, the Cisco 1113 SE appliance, and the Cisco 1120 SE appliance.
Q: What are the software versions supported by Cisco Secure ACS SE?
A: Cisco Secure ACS SE supports various software versions, such as 3.2.x, 3.3.x, 4.0, 4.1.x, 4.2, and 4.2.1.
Q: How can I check the current software version of my ACS SE appliance?
A: You can check the current software version of your ACS SE appliance by logging into the web interface and clicking on System Configuration > About.
Q: How can I backup and restore my ACS SE configuration and data?
A: You can backup and restore your ACS SE configuration and data by using the web interface or CLI commands. For more details, refer to the Cisco Secure Access Control Server Solution Engine Installation and Configuration Guides.
Q: How can I contact Cisco Technical Support for assistance with my ACS SE appliance?
A: You can contact Cisco Technical Support by phone, email, or web. For more details, refer to the Cisco Support page.